For nearly a year, US President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive effort to dismantle the International Criminal Court's investigation into "Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza. However, recent developments suggest his pressure campaign may be losing steam.

This week, officials from the court's 125 member nations gathered in The Hague for their first annual assembly since US sanctions disrupted court operations.

According to the HuffPost, these governments have made clear they won't bow to US pressure and reaffirmed their commitment to the court's continued operation, including investigations involving Israeli officials.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in late 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Despite claims from "Israel" about prosecutorial misconduct, the court has shown no indication of withdrawing these warrants.

Escalating US pressure

While Trump targeted ICC officials during his first term over Afghanistan investigations, his current approach has proven far more aggressive. The administration has leveraged the US' financial dominance to obstruct the court's work and create widespread fear among those connected to it.

Nonetheless, ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese judge, emphasized the court's independence during the summit, stating the court never accepts any kind of pressure.

Trump's sanctions campaign has affected three prosecutors, six judges, three Palestinian human rights organizations, and a UN special rapporteur. These measures have severe real-world consequences, as sanctioned individuals lose bank access, can't use services like Amazon, Airbnb, Microsoft, and Expedia, and face US travel bans. The ripple effect has created anxiety even among those peripherally connected to the court, with some abandoning war crimes investigations altogether.

Growing international support

Despite the pressure, HuffPost reports there's increasing momentum to defend the institution. French ICC judge Nicolas Guillou has called for the European Union to implement protections that would prevent European entities from complying with potential American sanctions. Member states continue expressing support for the court as a crucial "court of last resort" when national judicial systems fail.

Danya Chaikel, representing the International Federation for Human Rights, told the HuffPost she's witnessed unprecedented unity, stating she had never seen such camaraderie and alignment in 15 years in The Hague. Previous differences are fading because the entire Rome Statute system is being threatened.

The broader stakes

The Trump administration's immediate goal appears focused on withdrawing the Netanyahu and Gallant warrants. However, the court's entire mission has become a target. The US administration views global standards for civilian treatment and warfare conduct as hindrances to national sovereignty.

Trump, who is himself convicted of felonies, has promoted impunity for various violations of domestic and international law. Beyond opposing the ICC warrant for Netanyahu, he's also supporting the Israeli leader's effort to secure pardons from Israeli prosecutors for corruption charges.

Accordingly, State Department legal advisor Reed Rubinstein outlined the US position: all ICC investigations and arrest warrants against the US and "Israel" must be terminated, or all options remain on the table. He accused the court of overreaching abuse of power.

The court has proven it can convict high-profile war criminals. This year, the ICC secured the arrest of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte over accusations of directing the slaughter of thousands, and issued warrants for Taliban leaders in Afghanistan for what the court described as inhumane treatment of women.